Lebanese superstar Hiba Tawaji is no stranger to Saudi Arabia. She was the first female singer to perform live in Saudi Arabia in 2017, and just headlined a concert at Maraya Concert Hall in AlUla.
With a career spanning almost 15 years, the much-loved singer, actor and director has an international fan base. She’s especially close to our hearts and – judging from our post-concert interview in AlUla – we’re just as close to her’s. Here she chats to us about the stage, singing and Saudi.
You were the first female singer to perform a live concert in Saudi Arabia in 2017. What did that mean to you?
I was the first female artist to sing on a stage in Riyadh in 2017 and this meant a lot to me. I felt a great responsibility towards my fellows. It was a successful concert and the audience enjoyed it a lot.
What do you love most about performing in Saudi Arabia?
I love the audience. I feel they’re very respectful of the art we present. They love it. They enjoy it. I love the hospitality, too. People here are very kind and generous and they’re always smiling. The ladies are classy as well.
Maraya Concert Hall is pretty dazzling. How did you feel about performing in the space?
Maraya is an amazing concert hall. One of the most beautiful stages I have ever performed on, inside and out. The architecture is impressive, especially the innovative mirror design that reflects the breathtaking landscape of the place. It’s a classy concert hall – I felt a certain gravitas while performing on stage. The landscape makes Maraya the perfect place for all types of events. I was very excited to be there. I felt very welcome.
Share with us the highlights from your recent AlUla show.
I performed some of my famous songs and a couple of musical theatre songs. I also sang some fan favourites including Min Elli Byekhtar, which spoke to the ladies. I wanted to surprise the audience with a famous Saudi song, which is Abdulrab Idrees’s song Law Bagi Leila. I wanted to show my appreciation for the music of Saudi Arabia. I also performed an Aladdin medley – in fact, just recently I provided the French version for Jasmine’s singing voice in the movie. I admire Jasmine – she’s a strong and ambitious female character. I was also inspired by the atmosphere and the landscapes of AlUla.
AlUla is a special destination with UNESCO World Heritage sites. What did you make of this cultural gem?
My schedule was tight and we couldn’t tour the ancient city. I only had two days: one day for sound-check and rehearsals, and the second day we had to perform. I really wanted to explore, but it was not possible due to lack of time. Also, I was concentrating on the concert. I’m definitely going to come back to AlUla soon, but the next time I’ll be back for a vacation.
And when can we see you live in Riyadh?
I hope I’ll be in Riyadh soon. I really enjoyed my stay last time and I’ll try to be back again soon. Why not? I hope I can do another concert.
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